Bottle carrier and process



p 1965 E. J. GRASER 3,208,632

BOTTLE CARRIER AND PROCESS Filed March 11, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG I 47 INVENTOR. EARL J GRASER BYzg A T TORNE V P 1965 E. J. GRASER 3,208,632

BOTTLE CARRIER AND PROCESS Filed March 11, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGZ INVENTOR. EARL J GPA SEA A T TORNEV Sept. 28, 1965 E. J. GRASER BOTTLE CARRIER AND PROCESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 11, 1963 INVENTOR. EARL J GRASER ATTORNEY P 28, 1965 E. J. GRASER 3,208,632

BOTTLE CARRIER AND PROCESS Filed March 11, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 EARL J GRASER FIG 7 BY KKZW ATTORNEY l INVENTOR.

Se t. 28, 1965 E. J. GRASER 3,208,632

BOTTLE CARRIER AND PROCESS Filed March 11, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. EARL J GRASER BY (M A TTORNEV United States Patent 3,208,632 BOTTLE CARRIER AND PROCESS Earl J. Graser, Monroe, La., assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Filed Mar. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 264,336 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-115) The present invention relates to a bottle carrier and relates in particular to a bottle carrier of the type useful to package a plurality of beverage bottles.

A primary feature of the invention is the provision of a unique blank fabricated from a single sheet of paper board which is convertible by folding and gluing into a collapsible bottle carrier which satisfies the requirements of Rule 41 of the Uniform Freight Classification regulations as established by the Interstate Commerce Commission.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a collapsible bottle carrier which provides a longitudinal and transverse partition arrangement which affords individual bottles protection on all sides throughout the full depth of the carrier.

The present invention also contemplates the steps of transferring a partition element, in its entirety, from a first position in which the element is disposed attached to the main body of the blank at a definite point to a second position in which the element is free and remote from said point, said first and second positions corresponding to collapsed and erect positions, respectively, of the carrier into which the blank is ultimately fabricated.

A paperboard blank convertible into a full depth multi-cell collapsible carrier and embracing certain features of the present invention may comprise a pair of spaced sidewalls, each sidewall having an end wall and a partition section hinged thereto in series in the order named, a multi-ply handle section disposed between the sidewalls, said handle section and said end walls being hinged to mating partition sections along a common fold line, a bottom panel hinged to one sidewall, each partition section comprising a longitudinal partition and a pair of spaced transverse partitions, each transverse partition having return bend flaps operable to develop double ply thickness in the central region of the transverse partition, each transverse partition having a glue flap operable to secure the transverse partition to its mating sidewall, one transverse partition of each pair comprising a cutout from its mating longitudinal partition, and a filler flap hinged to said bottom wall operable to tuck between mating longitudinal partitions effective to close a portion of said cutout when the blank is converted into a carrier.

In the art of fabricating bottle carriers from a single blank of paperboard, a method of transferring a partition element originally connected to the main body of the blank from a first position corresponding to a collapsed condition of the carrier ultimately formed from said blank to a second position corresponding to an erect condition of said carrier in which said partition element is separated from its original connection to said blank comprising the steps of creating a line of weakness between the partition element and the main body of the blank, gluing said partition element to a second partition element and moving said second partition element relative to said line of weakness so that said partition element is sheared from the main body of the blank, said moving and shearing occurring when the carrier, which is ultimately fabricated from said blank, is changed from its collapsed to its erect condition.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from an examination of the succeeding specification when read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of bodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the first steps in fabricating the blank of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show succeeding steps in fabricating the carrier;

FIG. 5 shows the finished fully formed carrier in the collapsed condition;

FIG. 6 shows the carrier fully erect;

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6 with certain of the sidewall portions broken away to show the internal partition struture;

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views of FIG. 7 taken along the lines and viewed in the directions indicated, and,

FIG. 11 is also a plan view of a blank showing a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a one piece blank of paperboard illustrating a glue pattern, score lines and through cuts in conventional fashion.

Sidewalls 11 and 12 straddle a multi-ply handle section comprising exterior panels 13 and 14 and mating interior panels 16 and 17.

The panels 13 and 14 are coated with blue as indicated by the hatching referenced 20. Sidewalls 11 and 12 are hinged by score lines 18 and 19, respectively, to adjacent end wall panels 21 and 22. The end wall panels 21-22 are, in turn, hinged at score line 23 to partition sections 24 and 26, respectively.

Note that the handle panels 13 and 14 are also hinged to the partition sections 24 and 26 along score line 23.

Each partition section comprises a longitudinal partition identified by the reference numerals 27 and 28 and a pair of spaced transverse partitions, identified by the reference numerals 29 and 31in partition section 24 and by the numerals 32 and 33 in partition section 26. 7

Note that the partitions 29 and 32 are cutouts from the longitudinal partitions 27 and 28 respectively. Each transverse partition 29, 31, 32 and 33 is provided with a return bend flap identified by the reference numerals 34, 36, 37 and 38.

The flaps 34 and 36 through 38 are operative to rotate about score lines, such as the line 39, to contact glue 41 to develop a double ply thickness for a reason which will become more apparent hereinafter.

Hinged to the partition section 26 at score line 42is a longitudinal partition flap 43 also formed with a return bend flap 44.

Hinged to sidewall 12 is bottom panel 46 having a partition element or filler flap 47 hinged thereto along a line of weakness or a weakened score line 48.

The filler flap 47 is operative to replace material removed from partition sections 24 and 26 as a result of the cutouts created by transverse partitions 29 and 32 as will be more apparent as the specification progresses.

As stated previously, the hatching in the various figures is for the purpose of showing regions in which glue is applied.

Referring now to FIG. 2, note that the initial steps in forming the carrier involve rotating handle panels 16 and 17 about score line 49 into a glued and faoe-to-face relationship with respect to panels 13 and 14.

Return bend flaps 34, 36, 37, 38 and 44 are rotated about their respective fold lines or score lines 1, 2, 39, 3 and 4 from the positions shown in FIG. 1 to the positions shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3, succeeding steps are shown, namely, partition sections 24 and 26 are rotated about score line 23 and transverse partition glue flaps 51 through 54 are glued to their mating sidewalls 11 and 12.

a blank illustrating a first ema carrier from In FIG. 4 longitudinal partition flap 43 is first rotated about score line 42 and is secured to longitudinal partition 28 by the glue indicated by the reference numeral 56 in FIG. 3. Next, opposite end walls 57 and 58 are rotated about score line 59 to the position shown. Next bottom panel 46 is rotated about central score line 61 so that partition elements or filler flap 47 overlays longiudinal partition 28 particularly the portion thereof cut out by the transverse partition 32.

Glue is applied to the various regions shown by the hatching indicia. Next the blank is folded about score line 62 to develop the collapsed carrier structure shown in FIG. 5 with bottom flap 63 overlapping and gluing to bottom panel 46 in well known fashion.

FIG. 6 shows the collapsed carrier of FIG. 5 in the erect condition.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 through 10, details of the partition structure of the erect carrier become more apparent.

FIGS. '7 and 9 show that all transverse partitions 29 and 31 through 33 have a double ply thickness in the central region of the partition (provided by return bend flaps 34, 36, 37 and 38) to give bottles maximum board thickness at their points of tangency.

These figures also show that the longitudinal partition is at least double ply thickness in that the longitudinal partition flap 43 has a return bend flap 44.

FIGS. 1,. 7, 8 and show that the transverse partitions 29 and 32 make substantial cutouts from the longiutdinal partitions 27 and 28 particularly at the bottom of the erected carton.

Note particularly in FIGS. 7 and 10 that filler flap 47 replaces the cutout from both transverse partitions 27 and 28 at the bottom of the carrier where, were it not for the filler flap 47, there would be a serious problem of damage between bottles straddling the cutouts.

Note, too, that the partition element or filler flap 47 is attached to the original blank by a weakened score line 48. The flap 47 remains in this attached condition during fabrication of the carrier into the collapsed condition shown in FIG. 5.

Upon erecting the carrier to the condition shown in FIG. 6, the filler flap is sheared from the body of the blank and is transferred by the longitudinal partitions 27 and 28 (to which it has been glued) to the center of the carrier as is most apparent in FIGS. 7, 8 and 10.

Referring now to FIG. 11, there is shown a modified blank. The primary modification being that the bottom panel 63 is not formed with a filler flap. Correspondingly, the transverse partitions 64 and 66 are not cut as Lleeply from the mating longitudinal partions 67 and 68. This blank is in all other respects similar to the blank of FIG. 2 and is fabricated to its collapsed condition and :rected in the same fashion as previously described with *espect to the blank of FIG. 1.

It is anticipated that a wide variety of modifications may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A one piece, single ply blank convertible into a full depth multi-cell collapsible bottle carrier comprising a pair of spaced sidewalls, each sidewall having an end wall and a partition section hinged thereto in series in the order named, a multi-ply handle section disposed between the sidewalls, said handle section and said end walls being hinged to mating partition sections along a common, single fold line, a bottom panel hinged to one sidewall, each partition section comprising a longitudinal partition and a pair of spaced transverse partitions, each transverse partition having return bend flaps operable to develop double ply thickness in the central region of the transverse partition, each transverse partition having a glue flap operable to secure the transverse partition to its mating sidewall, one transverse partition of each pair comprising a cutout from its mating longitudinal partition, and a filler flap hinged to said bottom wall operable to tuck between mating longitudinal partitions effective to close a portion of said cutout when the blank is converted into a carrier.

2. A one piece, single ply blank convertible into a full depth mnlti-cell bottle carrier comprising a pair of spaced' sidewalls, each sidewall having an end wall and a partition section hinged thereto in series and in the order named, a multi-ply handle section disposed between the sidewalls, said handle section and said end walls being hinged to mating partition sections along a common, single fold line, a bottom panel hinged to one sidewall, each partition section comprising a longitudinal partition and a pair of spaced transverse partitions, each transverse partition having return bend flaps operable to develop double ply thickness in the central region of the transverse partition, each transverse partition having a glue flap operable to secure the transverse partition to its mating side wall, one transverse partition of each pair comprising a cutout from its mating longitudinal partition, and a filler flap hinged to said bottom wall operable to tuck between mating longitudinal partitions effective to close a portion of said cutout when the blank is converted into a carrier, and a longitudinal partition flap hinged to one of said partition sections, said flap having a return bend flap and being operable when the blank is converted into a carrier to sandwich between said partition sections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,393,114 1/46 Lyons 229-28 X 2,693,298 11/54 Palmer 2201 18 3,061,142 10/62 Cote 220113 3,104,02'7 9/63 Kulig 22928 X FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A ONE PIECE, SINGLE PLY BLANK CONVERTIBLE INTO A FULL DEPTH MULTI-CELL COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE CARRIER COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED SIDEWALLS, EACH SIDEWALL HAVING AN END WALL AND A PARTITION SECTION HINGED THERETO IN SERIES IN THE ORDER NAMED, A MULTI-PLY HANDLE SECTION DISPOSED BETWEEN THE SIDEWALLS, SAID HANDLE SECTION AND SAID END WALLS BEING HINGED TO MATING PARTITION SECTIONS ALONG A COMMON, SINGLE FOLD LINE, A BOTTOM PANEL HINGED TO ONE SIDEWALL, EACH PARTITION SECTION COMPRISING A LONGITUDINAL PARTITION AND A PAIR OF SPACED TRANSVERSE PARTITIONS, EACH TRANSVERSE PARTITION HAVING RETURN BEND FLAPS OPERABLE TO DEVELOP DOUBLE PLY THICKNESS IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF THE TRANSVERSE PARTITION, EACH TRANSVERSE PARTITION HAVING A GLUE FLAP OPERABLE TO SECURE THE TRANSVERSE PARTITION TO ITS MATING SIDEWALL, ONE TRANSVERSE PARTITION OF EACH PAIR COMPRISING A CONTOUT FROM ITS MATING LONGITUDINAL PARTITION, AND A FILLER FLAP HINGED TO SAID BOTTOM WALL OPERABLE TO TUCK BETWEEN MATING LONGITUDINAL PARTITIONS EFFECTIVE TO CLOSE A PORTION OF SAID COUTOUT WHEN THE BLANK IS CONVERTED INTO A CARRIER. 